To calculate the total number of heartbeats in Massachusetts per year, we can use the following formula:
\[ \text{Total Heartbeats} = \text{Average Heartbeats per Person per Year} \times \text{Population} \]
Given:
- Average heartbeats per person per year = \(3.5 \times 10^7\)
- Population of Massachusetts = \(7 \times 10^6\)
Now, we can substitute these values into the formula:
\[ \text{Total Heartbeats} = (3.5 \times 10^7) \times (7 \times 10^6) \]
Next, we multiply the coefficients (3.5 and 7) and add the exponents (7 and 6):
\[ 3.5 \times 7 = 24.5 \] \[ 10^7 \times 10^6 = 10^{7+6} = 10^{13} \]
So, we have:
\[ \text{Total Heartbeats} = 24.5 \times 10^{13} \]
To express this in scientific notation, we need to move the decimal point one place to the left to make the coefficient between 1 and 10:
\[ 24.5 \times 10^{13} = 2.45 \times 10^{14} \]
Therefore, the total number of heartbeats that occur in Massachusetts per year is \(2.45 \times 10^{14}\).